Columnar air moving devices, systems and methods

Abstract

An air moving system includes an air moving device including a housing member, a rotary fan assembly, and an opening for connection with an airflow duct, the housing including a plurality of air intake vents. A first volume of air can enter the housing through the opening and a second volume of air can enter the housing through the plurality of intake vents. The rotary fan assembly directs the first and second volumes of air.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An air moving device comprising:
 a housing member forming an interior space within the air moving device, the housing member having an opening that fluidly connects the interior space with air outside of the housing; 
 a ceiling support structure connected to the housing member and forming an outer peripheral edge of the air moving device; 
 an air vent grill assembly configured to be positioned at least partially within the housing member, the air vent grill assembly comprising a plurality of air vents for directing a volume of air into the interior space of the air moving device, and at least one projection configured to releasably attach to the ceiling support structure, the projection including a proximal portion connected to a distal portion by a first hinge, wherein the projection when releasably attached to the ceiling support structure thereby forms a tool-less second hinge that allows the air vent grill assembly to rotate relative to the ceiling support structure from a horizontal position to a downward position when the air moving device is positioned at least partially within a ceiling structure of a building, wherein the air vent grill assembly is supported by the tool-less second hinge when the air vent grill assembly is positioned in the downward position, and wherein the tool-less second hinge is configured to enable the air vent grill assembly to be removable from the ceiling support structure without use of tools; and 
 a rotary fan assembly including an impeller mounted on the air vent grill assembly within the interior space of the housing member, wherein the rotary fan assembly and impeller are configured to rotate with the air vent grill assembly when the air vent grill assembly rotates relative to the ceiling support structure about the tool-less second hinge and the rotary fan assembly being operable in the horizontal position without being connected to ductwork or tubing. 
 
     
     
       2. The air moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the ceiling support structure comprises at least one attachment opening configured to receive at least a portion of the at least one projection. 
     
     
       3. The air moving device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one attachment opening comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width less than the first width. 
     
     
       4. The air moving device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one projection comprises an elongate connector at one end, the elongate connector having a width less than the first width but greater than the second width. 
     
     
       5. The air moving device of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one projection comprises a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width less than the first width of the at least one projection. 
     
     
       6. The air moving device of  claim 3 , wherein the first width of the at least one projection is approximately equal to the first width of the at least one attachment opening, and wherein the second width of the at least one projection is approximately equal to the second width of the at least one attachment opening. 
     
     
       7. The air moving device of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more flow straighteners configured to straighten the volume of air to output the volume of from the air moving device in a substantially columnar manner.